Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SYSTEN FOR NOUNTING ONE OR NORE ITENS
TO THB LEG ~TRUCTURE OF A WOR~TABLE
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a worktable, and more
particularly to an arrangement for mounting one or more
auxiliary items to a worktable.
Typically, a worktable includes a tabletop
supported by a pair of leg assemblies. Often, various
storage and other components are used in the same general
area as a worktable. Such components may include file
cabinets and other storage units and other tables or work
surfaces. Often, a worktable is used to support a com-
puter monitor and keyboard, and the computer unit is
stored below the worktable. Typically, a stand is used
to support the computer unit off the floor.
It is an object of the present invention to
provide a system for mounting one or more items to a
worktable, utilizing the legs of the worktable to support
the items. Another object of the invention is to provide
a simple and efficient arrangement for mounting a variety
of items to the worktable legs for providing an efficient
work arrangement and reducing the overall footprint of a
work area. Yet another object of the invention is to
provide a mounting system which is easily adaptable to
the conventional structure of a worktable leg.
The worktable in connection with which the
invention is used includes one or more work surfaces
supported above a pair of spaced legs, with each leg
including a first inner surface facing toward the other
leg and a second outer surface facing away from the other
leg. In accordance with the invention, a system for
mounting an item to the worktable includes one or more
spaced vertical slot patterns provided on the leg, and
one or more bracket members mounted to the item which is
to be mounted to the worktable. The bracket member
includes structure engageable with the slot pattern in
the leg for removably mounting the item to the worktable
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leg. Preferably, a pair of spaced vertical slot patterns
are provided on both the inner and outer surfaces of each
leg, and a pair of bracket members are mounted to the
item which is to be mounted to the worktable. The brack-
et members are spaced apart a distance substantiallyequal to the spacing of the slot patterns.
The invention is adapted to mount any desired
item to the worktable leg. Representatively, such items
may include a work surface extension, a file cabinet or
pedestal, a holder for a computer unit, or an overhead
storage unit. In each case, brackets are mounted to the
item, and are removably engageable with the slot patterns
for removably mounting the item to the worktable leg.
With this construction, items can be mounted to both the
inner and outer surfaces of each leg to fully utilize the
mounting capacity of the leg and to provide a compact and
efficient work area.
The invention also contemplates a method of
removably mounting one or more items to one or more of
the worktable legs, substantially in accordance with the
foregoing summary.
Various other features, objects and advantages
of the invention will be made apparent from the following
description taken together with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The drawings illustrate the best mode presently
contemplated of carrying out the invention.
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a worktable
showing a work surface extension adapted for mounting to
the outer surface of one of the worktable legs;
Fig. 2 is a partial section view taken general-
ly along line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the manner in which
the bracket member engages the slot pattern formed in the
worktable leg;
Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view taken along
line 3-3 of Fig. 2;
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Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a
system for mounting a file cabinet or pedestal to the
worktable leg;
Fig. 5 is a partial isometric view showing a
computer unit holder adapted for mounting to one of the
surfaces of one of the worktable legs;
Fig. 6 is a partial isometric view showing a
portion of an overhead storage unit adapted for mounting
to the worktable legs;
Fig. 7 is a side elevation view of the overhead
storage unit of Fig. 6 as mounted to the table legs; and
Fig. 8 is a partial front elevation view show-
ing mounting of the overhead storage unit to the table
leg.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to Fig. 1, a split-surface worktable
10 generally includes a front surface 12, a rear surface
14, and a pair of leg assemblies 16, 18. Leg assembly 16
includes a front leg 20 and a rear leg 22, and leg assem-
bly 18 includes a front leg 24 and a rear leg 26. Front
legs 20, 24 support front surface 12, and rear legs 22,
24 support rear surface 14. Leg assemblies 16, 18 also
include an adjustable height mechanism interconnected
with each of its respective front and rear legs for
providing adjustability in the elevation of front surface
12 and rear surface 14 relative to the floor.
The components and assembly described above are
generally known in the art, and are commercially avail-
able from Krueger International, Inc. of Green Bay,
Wisconsin, the assignee of the present application, under
its designation WorkZone and/or DataBord.
Leg assembly 18 includes an outer surface or
wall 28 which faces away from leg assembly 16, and an
inner surface or wall 30 (Fig. 2) which faces toward leg
assembly 16. Similarly, leg assembly 16 includes an
inner surface or wall 32 facing leg assembly 18, and an
outer surface or wall (not shown) facing away from leg
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assembly 18 and constructed similarly to outer surface 28
of leg assembly 18.
In accordance with the invention, a pair of
vertical slot patterns, shown generally at 34, 36, are
formed in outer surface 28 of leg assembly 18. A similar
pair of slot patterns, one of which is shown at 38 (Fig.
2) are formed in inner surface 30 of leg assembly 18.
Likewise, similar slot patterns are formed in the inner
and outer surfaces of leg assembly 16. The slot patterns
formed in inner surface 32 of leg assembly 16 are shown
at 40, 42. All of the slot patterns are substantially
identical in construction, and reference is made to Figs.
2 and 3 for a description of slot pattern 34, with the
understanding that such description applies with equal
force to the remaining slot patterns formed in the inner
and outer surfaces of leg assemblies 16, 18.
Slot pattern 34 is formed in a recess defined
in front surface 28 of leg assembly 18 by a pair of side
walls 40, 42 and an end wall 44 extending therebetween.
A series of elongated openings or slots 46 are formed in
end wall 44, and slots 46 are spaced an equal distance
from each other. With this arrangement, slots 46 are
recessed inwardly from outer surface 28 of leg assembly
18.
Slot patterns 34 and 38 are formed in a front
tube 47 (Fig. 2) within which front leg 24 of leg assem-
bly 18 is received. Tube 47 is constructed according to
conventional sheet metal stamping and forming technology.
A rear tubular member, formed similarly to front tubular
member 47, receives rear leg 26, and a filler member is
placed between the front and rear tubular members. A top
cap 48 is placed above the front and rear tubular members
and the filler member, which are mounted such as by
welding or the like to a base member 50.
The slot patterns, such as slot pattern 34
described in Figs. 2-3, extend substantially the entire
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height of leg assembly 18 between upper cap member 48 and
lower base member So.
The slot patterns in the inner and outer sur-
faces of leg assemblies 16, 18 are used to mount a vari-
ety of components to leg assemblies 16, 18. Fig. 1illustrates a work surface extension assembly 52 adapted
for mounting to outer surface 28 of leg assembly 18.
Work surface extension assembly 52 includes a work sur-
face extension 54 secured by a suitable bracket or the
like to a vertical channel-shaped support member 56,
which in turn is adjustably mounted to a horizontal
channel-shaped base member 58. Vertical support member
56 includes a longitudinally extending vertical slot 60,
and a manually operable tightening screw 62 extends into
a threaded opening formed in base member 58 for clamping
vertical support member 56 to base member 58 in a desired
vertical position according to user requirements.
A pair of brackets 64, 66 are mounted to the
ends of horizontal base member 58. Brackets 64, 66 are
spaced apart a distance equal to that of the center-to-
center spacing of slot patterns 34, 36, enabling brackets
64, 66 to be engaged with slot patterns 34, 36 to adjust-
ably and removably mount work surface extension assembly
52 to leg assembly 18. Brackets 64, 66 include a series
of fingers 68 having tabs 70 extending downwardly there-
from. Brackets 64, 66 further include an upper locking
tab 72 defining a semicircular shape. Base member 58 is
engaged with slot patterns 34, 36 with vertical support
member 56 and work surface 54 removed therefrom, by first
engaging locking tab 72 within a desired one of slots 46,
with base member 58 being oriented in a substantially
horizontal plane. Base member s8 is then pivoted down-
wardly such that the lower end of upper locking tab 72
rides on the lower edge of the slot 46 within which
locking tab 72 is inserted, and fingers 70 and tabs 68
are inserted through the slots 46 below the slot within
which locking tab 72 is received. Once base member 58 is
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in a substantially vertical plane, base member 58 is
moved downwardly to engage the undersides of fingers 68
with the lower edge of each slot 46, with depending
fingers 70 engaging the inner surface of end wall 44
below each slot 46. This functions to lock base member
58 to leg assembly 18. Work surface extension 54 and
support member 56 are then assembled to base member 58 by
use of screw 62, which allows work surface 54 to be moved
to a desired vertical position relative to leg assembly
18. The connection of base member 58 to leg assembly 18
can be adjusted by reversing the above steps to disengage
base member 58 from leg assembly 18, placing base member
58 in a different desired position, and carrying out the
steps noted above to re-engage base member 58 with leg
assembly 18.
Fig. 4 illustrates worktable 10 and mounting of
a file cabinet assembly 73 thereto using a pair of brack-
ets 74, 75. File cabinet assembly 73 is of conventional
construction, including a box defining upper, lower, rear
and side walls, and a pair of drawers mounted for sliding
inward-outward movement relative thereto. Brackets 74,
75 are mounted to the bottom wall of file cabinet 73, by
means of a series of screws 76 interconnecting upper
horizontal connector portions 78, 80 of brackets 74, 75,
respectively with the bottom wall of file cabinet 73.
Brackets 74, 75 further include sides 80, 82, respective-
ly which include connector structure, shown generally at
84, 86, respectively, which is substantially identical in
construction to fingers 68 and tabs 70 as described in
connection with base member 58 (Figs. 1, 3). Brackets
74, 75 are spaced apart a distance equal to the center-
to-center distance of slot patterns 34, 36, and are
engageable with slots 46 at any desired vertical position
of slot patterns 34, 36 to mount file cabinet 73 to leg
assembly 18. In this instance, however, connector struc-
ture 84 does not include a locking tab such as 72, since
brackets 74, 75 are permanently affixed to file cabinet 73.
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As shown in phantom in Fig. 4, file cabinet 73
may also be mounted to inner surface 32 of leg assembly
16 using slot patterns 40, 42. Similarly, file cabinet
70 could be mounted to the inner surface of leg assembly
18 or the outer surface of leg assembly 16, with brackets
74, 75 being mounted to file cabinet 73 180 from their
position as shown in Fig. 4 in order to enable the doors
of file cabinet assembly 73 to face forwardly.
Fig. 5 illustrates a computer unit holder
assembly 90 for engaging and supporting a computer unit,
shown in phantom at 92. Holder assembly 90 is mountable
to the inner or outer surface of either leg assembly 16
or leg assembly 18 for storing computer unit 92 in a
location accessible to worktable 10 and above the floor.
Holder assembly 90 includes a tubular inner
frame defined by a pair of spaced vertical members 94,
96, an upper horizontal cross-member 98 extending there-
between, and a pair of lower horizontal members 100, 102
extending outwardly from the lower ends of vertical
members 94, 96. A resilient sleeve or pad 104 is mounted
to upper cross-member 98. A tubular second frame in-
cludes a pair of angled members 106, 108 having a hori-
zontal upper cross-member 110 extending therebetween, and
a pair of lower members 112, 114 extending outwardly
therefrom. A resilient sleeve or pad 116 is mounted to
upper cross-member 110. Lower members 112, 114 of the
second frame are received within lower tubular members
100, 102 of the first frame for telescoping sliding
inwardjoutward movement, and manually operable tightening
screws 118, 120 extend through threaded openings formed
in lower members 100, 102 to selectively fix the position
of the second frame relative to the first frame. In this
manner, the distance between upper cross-members 98, 110
is adjusted according to the width of computer unit 92.
This enables upper members 98, 110 and their resilient
pads 104, 116, respectively to engage the computer unit
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sides, with the lower edge of computer unit 92 being
supported by members 100, 102 and 112, 114.
A pair of brackets 122, 124 are mounted to
vertical members 94, 96, respectively of the first frame
of computer holder 90. Brackets 122, 124 are again
spaced apart a distance equal to the center-to-center
spacing of slot patterns 40, 42, and include spaced apart
fingers and tabs similar to those illustrated and de-
scribed with respect to Figs. 1 and 3. Brackets 122, 124
are engageable with the slots of slot patterns 40, 42 at
any desired vertical position, in the manner described
above, in order to secure holder assembly 90 to leg
assembly 16. In this manner, computer unit 92 is secure-
ly stored in an out of the way location relative to
worktable 10, and is kept off the floor to prevent it
from being bumped or kicked by the user of worktable 10.
Alternatively, it is understood that holder
assembly 90 could be mounted to the slot patterns in the
outer surface of leg assembly 16 or to the slot patterns
in the inner or outer surfaces of leg assembly 18, as
desired by the user.
Figs. 6-8 illustrate an overhead storage assem-
bly 130 adapted for mounting to worktable 10. Overhead
storage assembly 130 includes a pair of shelves 131, 132
to which a conventional flipper door 133 is mounted.
Shelves 131, 132 are mounted to a pair of side panels,
one of which is shown at 134, by means of a series of
screws 136 or the like connected to side panels 134 onto
which notches, such as 137, formed in shelves 131, 132
are placed. Shelves 131, 132 and door 133 thus form an
overhead storage bin. Alternatively, shelves 131, 132
could be used without door 133 to provide overhead shelf
space.
Side panel 134 terminates in a lower end por-
tion 138, and is adapted to be received within a bracket
assembly 140 which is engageable with slot patterns 34,
36 in leg assembly 18.
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Bracket assembly 140 includes a pocket-defining
base 142 including an outer wall 144, an inner wall 146,
and a pair of side walls 148, 150. A bottom wall 152
(Fig. 7) interconnects the lower ends of walls 144-150,
so that base 142 defines a passage or pocket 154 within
which lower portion 138 of side panel 134 is received.
Bracket assembly 140 further includes a bracket 156
extending from a plate 158, which in turn is intercon-
nected with side wall 148 and rear wall 146 of base 142.
A bracket 160 extends rearwardly from rear wall 146.
Brackets 156, 160 are spaced apart a distance e~ual to
the center-to-center distance of slot patterns 34, 36,
and include finger and tab structure similar to that
shown and described with respect to Figs. 1 and 3. In
this manner, base 142 is engageable with slot patterns
34, 36 via brackets 156, 160 to mount bracket assembly
140 to leg assembly 18 in a desired vertical position on
leg assembly 18.
As shown in Fig. 6, worktable 10 may be provid-
ed with a continuous tabletop work surface 162, whichincludes notches, such as 164, at the rearward end of its
sides to receive side panels 134. Rollers, such as 166,
are mounted below work surface 162 extending into the
notches, such as 164, for engaging side panels 134 and
supporting overhead storage unit 130 during adjustment of
the height of work surface 162. Additionally, rollers
166 provide lateral stability to overhead storage unit
130 when mounted to table 10.
It is understood that a bracket assembly simi-
lar to that as shown at 140 is mounted to leg assembly 16
for receiving and supporting a side panel on the opposite
end of overhead storage unit 130, which is a mirror-image
of side panel 134. A similar notch and roller system,
such as shown at 164, 166, are provided on tabletop 162
at the opposite end of work surface 162.
Any number of components may be assembled to
the inner and outer surfaces of leg assemblies 16, 18, as
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desired according to individual user requirements. For
example, each surface of each leg assembly could have one
or more items connected thereto in order to minimize the
footprint of a work space and to efficiently arrange the
components contained within the work space.
The invention thus provides a simple and eco-
nomical system for mounting one or more items to one or
more legs of a worktable, in which the position of the
items mounted to the worktable leg can be adjusted and in
which the item can be interchanged and/or removed as
desired according to user requirements.
Various alternatives and embodiments are con-
templated as being within the scope of the following
claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming
the subject matter regarded as the invention.
